All cases

Convert Stabbed with Knife Outside Grindtorp Church

July 22, 2020, Sweden

Hossein Hosseini, a young convert from Islam to Christianity, was stabbed with a knife at Grindtorp Church in Täby, in the Stockholm area. According to reports, he has been receiving online death threats for a long time. He says he is "very scared".

Church Site Vandalized Causing 5,000 Euros in Damage

July 21, 2020, Germany

On July 21st, unknown perpetrators vandalized the entire area surrounding the Protestant city church of Groß-Gerau. Yellow graffiti was sprayed on walls, wooden benches, a parking sign and wall pillars causing an estimated damage of 5,000 Euros. The police ares investigating the incident and asked the public for help identifying the vandals.

Suspicious Fire in Ligugé Abbey

July 21, 2020, France

A fire was discovered on July 20, 2020, just before midnight, in the building used as a laundry room at the Abbey Saint-Martin de Ligugé. According to firefighters, about 20 of the 100 m2 were destroyed. One person was detained and questioned. No charges have been announced.

"Fake Mass" Filmed and Vandalism in Maccagno

July 21, 2020, Italy

The police of Maccagno suspect a small group of young people to have entered the church of Our Lady of the Point through a half-opened door during the night of July 21st. They took liturgical vestments from the sacristy and climbed onto the altar to "celebrate Mass" on it. The vandals later moved to the shore of the lake where they, after drinking bottles of beer, left the empty beer carton on the head of the statue of the Virgin Mary. Videos of the "fake Mass" appeared on social media and the police began an investigation.

The Deputy Agnès Thill talks about religious Intolerance in The Parliament (Video)

July 21, 2020, France

In a two-minute intervention, the Deputy Agnès Thill calls on the government to protect religious freedom and churches in Nantes. She referred to the latest report on anti-religious acts published by the Ministry of the Interior. Based on the report, 1052 anti-Christian acts, 657 antisemitic acts, and 154 anti-Muslim acts have been committed in 2019. She calls on the protection of secularism and fight against antisemitism, islamophobia, but also all anti-christian acts.

Vandals Smashed Four Windows of the Church of Großweitzschen

July 20, 2020, Germany

An employee of the parish of the church of Großweitzschen discovered on July 21st that four stained glass panes of the door on the organ tempore had been smashed the day before. Reports indicate that this is not the first time the church has been the victim of vandalism.

Vandalism of Virgin Mary Statue in Alt-Schwallbach Chapel

July 20, 2020, Germany

Between July 19th and 20th an unknown perpetrator cut off and stole the hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary in a chapel in Alt-Schwallbach. Local Catholics are shocked, as the vandalism contains a mysterious detail, the vandal supposedly took the cut off hands with him/her, as they could not be found in- or outside the chapel. The police is investigating the case.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Decapitated in Montaud

July 20, 2020, France

Unknown perpetrators decapitated a statue of the Virgin Mary in Montaud, an important monument for the local community with valuable symbolism. The mayor of the city Joel Raymond discovered the damage and filed a complaint.

Abbess of German Benedictine Convent Charged for Granting Church Asylum

July 20, 2020, Germany

The abbess of the German Benedictine convent Maria Frieden in Kirchschletten faced criminal charges for granting church asylum. The trial against Mother Mechthild Thürmer before the Bamberg District Court was scheduled for July 31. The abbess of the monastery in Upper Franconia had taken in an Eritrean woman in fall of 2018, who was to be deported to Italy. She disputed a penalty order for "aiding and abetting an illegal stay", combined with a fine of 2,500 euros, arguing for freedom of conscience.

Anarchist Tags on the Church of Saint Clement in Nantes

July 19, 2020, France

On July 19th, just a day after the fire at the cathedral in Nantes, the priest of the Fraternité Saint-Pierre serving the Saint-Clément church in Nantes discovered anarchist tags sprayed on the front of the church.

Armed Man Yelling "Allahu Akbar" Heading Toward Church Stopped by Motorist

July 19, 2020, France

A 38-year-old motorist stopped a man who was heading towards a church in Blanc-Mesnil, armed with a loaded machine gun, shouting "Allahu akbar." 

Vandalism of Christ of Calvary on l’Île d’Arz

July 19, 2020, France

Unknown perpetrators broke the Christ of Calvary of Grèavo on the l’île d’Arz during the night of July 19th to 20th. The Christ figure was knocked off the large public crucifix and broken into several pieces. "A silly act, a sacrilege," reacts Christophe Stener, a local historian and resident. "Human stupidity has no limits. Whether one is a Christian or not, this act is revolting." The gendarmerie are investigating.

Window Front of Church in Bad Soden Smashed by Vandals

July 19, 2020, Germany

Unknown perpetrators destroyed the glass front of a church in Bad Soden on July 19th. The vandals smashed the glass panes of the Catholic Church in Salinenstraße, causing property damage amounting to several thousand euros. The police are investigating and asked for witness statements.

Arson Investigation after Fire Heavily Damaged Nantes Cathedral

July 18, 2020, France

In the early morning hours of July 18th, a fire began in the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral, in the heart of Nantes. Passers-by saw flames behind the rosette window of the cathedral and alerted emergency services a little before 8:00 am. When firefighters arrived, they discovered "a violent fire at the level of the organ located behind the rosette window." Upon further investigation, it appeared that the fire had started in three locations: one fire had started near the organ, while the other two were at the other end of the cathedral.

Theft and Vandalism of Tabernacle in San Giovanni Church

July 18, 2020, Italy

During the night of July 18th unknown vandals smashed the tabernacle under the image of Mary in the side altar of San Giovanni church in Trieste. Additionally, two valuable brass candlesticks were stolen. Don Sergio Fransin discovered the vandalism and theft and immediately reported the crime to the police.

Satanists Suspected of Theft and Desecration in St. Johann Baptist Church in Krefeld

July 18, 2020, Germany

Unknown perpetrators have stolen the golden door of the tabernacle, a monstrance stance and money from an donation box. The tabernacle door was forcefully torn out and the donation box vandalized and money stolen. The community of St. Johann Baptist Church suspects satanists to be the perpetrators, who use the stolen objects for satanic rituals, because the golden altar cross was not stolen, which speaks against just a monetary motivation.

Statue Of Virgin Mary Mutilated at the Miraculous Spring of Our Lady of Banneux

July 17, 2020, Belgium

Pilgrams to the miraculous spring of our Lady of Banneux discovered the severe mutilation of the statue of the Virgin Mary, which is situated above the spring. It is speculated that the vandalism took place in the week before July 17th. The face of the statue has been particularly mutilated therefore, the statue was replaced by an exact replica.

New Same-Sex Marriage Law in Northern Ireland Threatens Freedom of Conscience

July 17, 2020, United Kingdom

The Parliament of Northern Ireland passed a new marriage law for same-sex couples, which has two implications for the church and Christian business owners. The law prohibits private business to deny service to same-sex couples arguing for freedom of conscience. Additionally, the new legislation allows same-sex couples of faith to have religious wedding ceremonies in church or other religious settings if all parties agree.

Church of the Beata Vergine del Soccorso Repeatedly Vandalized

July 16, 2020, Italy

The portico of the Church of Beata Vergine del Soccorso, known locally as La Rotonda, is often used as a meeting place for young people in the city of Rovigo, despite an ordinance against it. Several times in the weeks before July 16th, mostly young people illegally climbed onto the historic porch and vandalized it, with a least one of them being caught on security cameras using it as a toilet on May 30th. The local police began an investigation.

Monument of St. John Paul II vandalized in Parisian Church

July 16, 2020, France

A bust of John Paul II, situated next to the entrance of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because the permission to build it on the square in front of the church was denied, was severely vandalized by unknown perpetrators. Although the street of Saint Hornore has surveillance, the case has not been reported to the police yet by the parish.

Anarchist Graffiti Targeting Church; City Hall in San Giorgio a Cremano

July 15, 2020, Italy

During the night of July 15th, vandals attacked various sites in the city of San Giorgio a Cremano near Naples, including the church of Santa Maria del Principio with graffiti. One tag on the church read "Fuoco al Vaticano." The city hall gate and the headquarters of some political movements were also targeted. The city's mayor, Giorgio Zinno, said the symbols and slogans demonstrated the vandals' anti-Catholic, anti-democratic, and anarchic ideology. The police are investing the case by analyzing the recordings of the public security cameras.

Fire in the Church Mother of Favara Destroys Organ, Paintings and Frescos

July 15, 2020, Italy

On July 15th, a fire broke out in the Church Mother of Favara, located at the heart of the city. It is speculated that the fire started at the electrical organ of the church due to a short circuit. The organ, several paintings and frescos were destructed by the fire. Fortunately, the work of the fire man prevented the fire to cause a structural damage to the building.

Theft of Relics in the Church of Honfleur

July 15, 2020, France

On July 15th the church of Saint-Léonard was a victim of theft. Parish priest Pascal Marie discovered that the contents of four relics were stolen. One relic is of special value, as it enshrines the bones of Saint Boniface, which are said to date back to the 8th century. The case was reported to the police. The estimation of the damage is difficult to evaluate because only the bones were stolen and the other valuable objects left behind.

Three Vandalism Incidents at Cemetery of Lézignan-Corbières in July

July 15, 2020, France

On July 15th, 24th, and 27th the cemetery of Lézignan-Corbières was repeatedly vandalized and various objects were stolen, such as crucifixes, crosses, vases, flowers, decorations, and plaques, . Gravestone plaques were dismantled, damaged, and reassembled elsewhere, and objects were moved. The perpetrators also attempted to open several graves. A police investigation was opened and the cemetery was closed to allow investigators to collect evidence for their investigations.

Mayor Publicly Criticised Parish for Holding a Rosary for the Family

July 14, 2020, Italy

The parish priest of the Church San Nicola in Lizzano was publicly criticized by the mayor for his prayer on the 14th of July. The priest organized a rosary for the families to ‘’defend the family from the pitfalls that threaten it, including the bill against homophobia.’’ The religious service was interrupted by a group of people holding rainbow flags and are in favor of the bill outside the church. According to the priest, the protesters put posters on the church saying, "God teaches you to hate gays", "God teaches you to discriminate" and similar phrases. While the Carabiniere were called to end the riot outside the church, the mayor defended the protest against the church. In the same respect, the Municipality of Lizzano also distanced itself from the initiative of the Church "We take, firmly, the distance," they wrote in a post published on Facebook.

Statue of the Virgin of the Ribbon Damaged

July 14, 2020, Spain

Unknown vandals damaged the sculpture of the Virgin of the Ribbon in the summit of Caro in Roquetes on July 14th. The vandals must have thrown stones at it and broken different parts off of it. The sculpture had recently been restored and the municipality has expressed their condemnation.

San Pietro Church in Canazza Vandalized with Paint Bomb for the 5th Time

July 13, 2020, Italy

On July 13th, a black paint bomb attack on the granite facade of San Pietro church occurred for the fifth time in two years. After a respite of a year, once again community members of the church again had to remove the damage using solvents to clean the oily back paint. This time, the vandals used twice as much paint than in previous assaults, making removal from the porous granite difficult.

Statue of Virgin and Child Vandalized with Red Graffiti in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île

July 13, 2020, France

During the night of July 13th and 14th the Marian statue of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île was vandalized with obscene red graffiti. The monument to commemorate the end of a parish mission in 1949 had previously been restored after being decapitated in 2018.

Harassing Graffiti at Saint-Martin Basilica

July 12, 2020, France

During the night of July 11th, the outside walls of Saint-Martin Basilica in Tours were sprayed with offensive graffiti (a cruder version of "become lesbians"), as well as the familiar anarchic tag "ACAB". The graffiti is clearly visible at the entrance of the basilica and was probably intended for the Benedictine nuns of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, who serve in the basilica. The police took photos and are investigating the case.

Church in Linz Receives Threats and Personal Harassment after Media Coverage about alleged COVID-19 Outbreak in "Free Churches"

July 11, 2020, Austria

A birthday party amongst members of the Romanian free church "Pfingstgemeinde Himmelstor" was reported to be the source of a COVID-19 outbreak cluster consisting of 234 infected people. The free church Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) rented their church building in Linz to the Romanian church and after the media reported about the incident and disclosed the address of the venue, CACI received public harassment on the streets and threatening emails. In contrast to the other free church community, CACI did not have any cases of COVID-19 and followed the official government guidelines, as it is member of the officially state recognised society of free churches in Austria, whose other members did not report any positive COVID-19 cases either.

Chuch St. Joseph in Holz Vandalized

July 10, 2020, Germany

In the night of July 10th unknown perpetrators forcibly opened the door of the Holzan church of St. Joseph and tore a plant and its roots out of a pot. The perpetrators then threw the plant in front of the church. The police opened an investigation.

Vandalism and Attempted Theft at the Verbanella Church in Castelletto Ticino

July 8, 2020, Italy

On July 8th an act of vandalism and attempted theft was discovered in Castelletto Ticino in the Verbanella Church. One stained-glass window was smashed into pieces, which also caused a damage on a statue of St. Anthony of Padua that fell on the ground. The police are investigating the incident.

Desecration of Saint Silas Chapel in Lesvos with Obscene Graffiti

July 8, 2020, Greece

In the latest in a series of vandalism and desecration incidents, unidentified perpetrators invaded the Saint Silas Chapel on July 8th, where they desecrated the interior, smashed windows, and sprayed obscene graffiti on the outside walls. The graffiti showed a clear bias against the local residents by writing phrases such as "f&*k you" on the walls. Despite the repeated complaints of residents no further action has been taken.

Two Smashed Windows at Rodde Chapel

July 7, 2020, Germany

Unknown perpetrators smashed two windows of the chapel of the Josefskirche in Rodde between July 5th and 7th causing at least 500 euros in damage. The police began an investigation.

Monstrance with Relic of Saint Leopold Stolen from Pilgrimage Church Maria Lanzendorf

July 5, 2020, Austria

Intruders stole a monstrance with a relic of St. Leopold III, the patron saint of Lower Austria, from the pilgrimage church Maria Lanzendorf, along with a second relic monstrance, as well as other liturgical objects such as chalices and incense boats. According to police reports, the crime was committed during the night of July 5th.

Suspicious Fire in the Saint-Paul Church of Corbeil-Essonnes

July 4, 2020, France

On the 4th of July at 5 o'clock in the morning the St. Paul Church in Corbeil-Essonnes was reported to be burning. The entire roof, interior, and the sacristy of the church were completely destroyed. The police reported that the fire broke out due to a gas leak caused by squatters, but at least one local resident is skeptical about this explanation.

Suspicious Fire in Frensdorf Pilgrimage Church

July 4, 2020, Germany

Around 6:30 p.m. on July 4th, an employee who entered the pilgrimage church from the back, noticed heavy smoke and fire in the area of ​​a church pew. A candle on the knee pad in front of the bench had set fire to a nylon rope, then the pad caught fire and the flames spread to the entire bench. The woman managed to extinguish the burning seat and backrest; then she called the fire brigade. The Bamberg criminal police took over the further investigation into the cause of the fire which resulted in 2,000 euros in damage.

Severe Vandalism of 75kg Cross at Weiden Church

July 4, 2020, Germany

On July 4th, unknown perpetrator knocked over the 75 kilogram cast iron cross in front of the Heart of Jesus church (Herz Jesu Kirche) in the Upper Palatinate town of Weiden, according to police reports. The cross, which was broken off steel pins, suffered massive damage. Police began an investigation and called for witnesses.

Attempted Theft in Church in Bad Orb

July 4, 2020, Germany

A thief, who had sneaked into the church in Würzburger Straße on the weekend, left the church without any loot. Between July 3rd and 4th, he entered the unlocked church and broke open the wooden door to the sacristy as well as a metal locker. He searched everything and disappeared again.

A Series of Thefts and Vandalism in Churches in the Area of Euskirchen Since July

July 3, 2020, Germany

Since the beginning of July, in the district of Euskirchen, there have been several break-ins in churches and vandalism or theft of donation money. The acts happened mostly on weekends. In a near region, also four churches were broken-in. The police are investigating.

Life Sentence for IS Supporter's Bomb Plot on St. Paul's Cathedral

July 3, 2020, United Kingdom

On July 3rd, Muslim convert Safiyya Amira Shaikh was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 14 years in jail for plotting a bomb attack on St. Paul's Cathedral London and a suicide bomb attack on the nearby underground station. Shaikh admitted the crime and showed no remorse; she wanted to kill as many "kufars" (unbelievers) as possible.

Severe Vandalism of Paintings in the Church Saint-Pierre d’Auxerre

July 3, 2020, France

On July 3rd, a Facebook page posted photos of paintings in the Church Saint-Pierre d’Auxerre that had been severely vandalized.

Man Arrested in Madrid after Shouting "I'm going to burn you all alive" during Mass

July 3, 2020, Spain

On July 3rd, Madrid's municipal police arrested a man after he burst into the San Ramón Nonato parish church in Puente de Vallecas, where a Mass was being celebrated, shouting "murderers, fags, and pedophiles! You should burn, I'm going to burn you all alive!"

Repeated Cases of Vandalism in Church of Bissendorf-Achelriede

July 2, 2020, Germany

In the three weeks between June 11th and July 2nd, the church of Bissendorf-Achelriede was vandalized three times by unknown perpetrators. The first two incidents happened at two buildings belonging to the church, eight windows were smashed and a wall sprayed with graffiti. The last incident occurred in the church and resulted in twenty-eight smashed windows, causing a total estimated damage of over thirteen thousand euros.

Sacred Heart Statue Unbolted and Stolen in Saint-Jean-Sart

July 2, 2020, Belgium

Between July 2nd and 3rd the newly-erected Sacred Heart of Jesus statue in the village of Saint-Jean-Sart was unbolted and stolen. The statue had been installed in the middle of June after extensive restoration by a community group. Local residents are shocked by the theft.

Threat of Criminal Sanctions to Churches Because of Covid-19

July 1, 2020, United Kingdom

Church leaders launched legal action against the UK government for unnecessary and bizarre Covid-19 Regulations against Churches. Bans with threat of criminal sanctions were imposed on churches while businesses and restaurants were trusted to take their own decisions. Christian leaders find a total lack of understanding on the part of the Government for matters related to religion and Christianity.

Fire in the Youth Centre at the Thomas Morus Church

June 30, 2020, Germany

On the evening of June 30th, a fire broke out in the youth centre, which is part of the Thomas Morus Church in Münster. The cause of the fire is still unclear but the investigation department of the police opened a case. No people were harmed during this fire.

British MP Receives Death Threat after Voting against Abortion Law

June 30, 2020, United Kingdom

In June, a British MP received a death threat and other online abuse after voting in accordance with her pro-life convictions. Dr Lisa Cameron, SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, was sent the threat just days after voting against a pro-abortion bill, which limits support/protest near abortion clinics.

Catalan Priest Attacked With A Glass On The Neck

June 30, 2020, Spain

On July 30th in a parish on Consell de Cent Street, a priest came to the aid of an old lady in the church after overhearing an argument between her and an unknown man. The priest confronted the aggressor directly, who then attacked him with a glass and cut his neck. The perpetrator tried to run away but was stopped by a witness. The police arrived and arrested the individual, who has a violent robbery history.

Suspected Arson at San Girolamo Church in Rimini

June 29, 2020, Italy

On June 29th, firefighters were called to the San Girolamo Church in the city of Rimini shortly after 3:30 in the afternoon. A pedestrian reported smoke emanating from the storage room of the church building where old furniture and plastic chairs formed the basis for the fire. Fortunately, the firefighting team was able to quell the blaze. A forensics team investigated whether the fire had been intentionally set, noting that nothing indicated that short circuits or similar faults were the cause of the fire.

La Dominelais Church Ravaged by Fire

June 29, 2020, France

On Monday, June 29th a fire which began behind the altar of the church of La Dominelais, south of Rennes, caused significant damage. Smoke and heat blackened the walls of the building, which had been renovated some twenty years ago.

Church Fire in Réaumont Investigated

June 29, 2020, France

Shortly before 7 p.m. on June 29th, the fire brigade was dispatched to a fire in the Réaumont church. The firefighters were able to contain the damage of the fire to the sacristy. The fire produced high volumes of smoke, which caused most of the damage in the sacristy. Fortunately the rest of the church remained intact and no sacred objects were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the gendarmerie.

Crystal Glass Pyramide Protecting the Statue of Antonfrancesco Farsetti Vandalized

June 28, 2020, Italy

On June 28th the crystal glass pyramid, which is supposed to protect the statue Antonfrancesco Farsetti, founder of Ilsa della Donazella, was smashed by unknown vandals.

Repeated Acts of Vandalism and Theft in Bergamo Church

June 27, 2020, Italy

In the week before June 27th, the church of Sant’Andrea in Bergamo was the victim of two crimes. The first incident was the vandalism of the liturgical chair which was discovered upside down in the middle of the church and wet with what the priest suspected was urine. The second incident was the theft of the offerings, accomplished by severely damaging the valuable offering boxes. This series of events led to the closure of the church except for Sunday Mass, until funds have been raised to install comprehensive security measures.

Robbers Cause €100 in Damage to Steal €5 from Sulzbach Church

June 26, 2020, Germany

Police report that between June 26th and June 28th unknown perpetrators stole money from the offering box of the evangelical Church of Sulzbach. While the damage to the church property was estimated to be one hundred euros, the thieves fled with five euros.

Fire Devastated Catholic Parish Hall; Apartment

June 26, 2020, Germany

AAround 10:30 p.m. on June 26th, the Hemmingen fire brigade was called due to a report of smoke in an apartment. Upon arrival, they discovered that that the adjacent caretaker's apartment in the attic of the Catholic Church of St. George parish hall was on fire. The fire brigade had to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading to the church, which is just a few meters away. According to the Ludwigsburg police, the caretaker's apartment was completely burnt out and is now uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Disturbance in the Church of Oppau in Ludwigshafen Suspect Fled

June 23, 2020, Germany

On June 23rd, the priest of the Catholic church in the Oppau district of Lugwigshafen heard a loud noise inside the church around 12:30 p.m. While investing the noise, he discovered a young man fleeing and found several objects in the church toppled over. The damage caused is estimated to be around 500 euros. The police are investigating.

Statue of Saint Junípero Serra Vandalized with "Racist"

June 22, 2020, Spain

The statue of the Mallorcan friar and saint Junípero Serra in Palma which stands in front of the central convent of Sant Francesc, was vandalized on June 22nd. The word 'racist' was smeared on the base of the monument, and the saint's image was also stained with red paint. The statue was attacked after the Podemos councilor in the Palma City Council, Sonia Vivas, mayor of Social Justice, Feminism and LGTBI, noted the statue of the eighteenth-century Franciscan friar had been attacked in California, USA. She suggested the statue of the saint should be thrown away "peacefully, "calling the saint a symbol of the "oligarchy".

‘Black Madonna’ in Breda defaced

June 22, 2020, Netherlands

On June 22nd, vandals defaced the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa and painted the letters "BLM" at the base in a park chapel in Breda. The image of Our Lady, which is revered by Poles and also known as the 'Black Madonna', was erected in the park in 1954 in thanksgiving for the city’s liberation from the Nazis.

Unknown Perpetrators Destroyed Forest Chapel In Achel

June 22, 2020, Belgium

On 22 June, vandals destroyed the small forest chapel at the Prinsenloop on the Witteberg in Achel. The facade was thrown out of the window and the statue of the Virgin Mary was completely destroyed and the debris was found near the chapel. Some tiles of the roof and a flowerpot were also smashed. The police are investigating.

Theft from Bühl Church

June 19, 2020, Germany

A thief caused nearly €200 in damage when he violently tore the offertory box affixed to a table in the Catholic church in Bühl on June 19th. Reports indicate the box only contained a few euros. The Bühl police began an investigation.

Church Devastated, Altar Burned and Crucifix Stolen in Gattinara

June 18, 2020, Italy

On the night of 17th to 18th June, unknown vandals targeted the small Church of the Madonna of the Consolation. The vandals forced the door open, stole the Crucifix, set fire to the altar, which also damaged the paintings and decorations, and destroyed the statue of the Madonna. The statue was found outside from the building.

The Sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza Damaged

June 16, 2020, Italy

The sanctuary of Carmel of Cesana Brianza has been seriously damaged. The parish of Santi Fermo e Rustico reported the incident on Facebook. To report the episode, promptly reported to the authorities, is the parish of Saints Fermo and Rustico who on their facebook page reported the incident: "In the evening, numerous underage teenagers gather, leaving dirt and damage. To the children we say: the sanctuary is a place of silence and prayer, do not ruin it with irresponsible behaviour! This is no place to bivouac! We respect the sacredness".

Theft from the Catholic Church

June 16, 2020, Germany

On Sunday, June 14th, unknown people broke the sacristy door of a Catholic church in the northern complex. Between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., they entered the church and tampered with the wooden door. Keys were apparently stolen from the room. The property damage is estimated at around 200 euros. Police are looking for clues and witness. Please inform the criminal police in Gießen at 0641 / 7006-2555.

Abortion Allowed up to Birth in Case of Non-Fatal Disability in NI Despite Stormont Assembly Vote

June 15, 2020, United Kingdom

Despite the opposition by the Stormont Assembly, Parliament of Northern Ireland, the House of Lords in the UK backed the abortion regulations for Northern Ireland, which were made on the time when the Assembly had collapsed. The regulations permit abortions up to birth in cases of severe non-fatal disability, such as the Down-syndrome. Lord Shinkwin, a Peer in the House of Lords, who also has a disability asked how they could deny life to a human being diagnosed with a non-fatal disability.

Government Proposed to Ban Pro-Life Campaigns In Front Of Abortion Hospitals

June 15, 2020, Ireland

In Ireland, the Government proposed creating "free access zones", where pro-life campaigners would not be allowed to stand in front of Hospitals and Abortion centers. Pro Life Campaigner Eilis Mulroy criticises the intended introduction of censorship zones. He claims that these exclusion zones go against freedom of speech and peaceful protests. Also, the Pro-Life movement criticizes the absence of meaningful support or interest in providing other alternatives to abortion in the draft Program for the Government.

Vandalism with Excrement in the Capuchin Church in Spoleto

June 14, 2020, Italy

The small church of the Minori Cappuccini di Spoleto was discovered vandalized with human excrement on June 14th, the feast of Corpus Christi. The excrement was scattered in several places in the church, including the chapel of the Madonna, on the entrance threshold, and on door handles.

Statues Beheaded in Chapel Sculpture Garden

June 14, 2020, Belgium

The statue of Saint Anthony in the De Kluize sanctuary in Knutsegem in Velzeke and the statue of Julius Caesar on Romeins Plein were vandalized on the weekend of June 14. Their names were sprayed with graffiti. Additionally, all the statues in the sanctuary sculpture garden behind the chapel of Saint Anthony were beheaded.

The Head of Saint Arnould Detached and Thrown in Ravine

June 14, 2020, Belgium

The head of the statue of Saint Arnould, patron saint of brewers, erected in Bouillon (province of Luxembourg), was unscrewed and thrown into a ravine during the night between June 13th and 14th. It was badly damaged but not destroyed because vegetation in the ravine broke its fall. A complaint was filed and Bouillon Mayor Patrick Adam was confident the perpetrators would be caught: “Thanks to the cameras that are installed by the municipality and thanks to those of the private ones, we will be able to recover images. We do not want this act to go unpunished.”

Attempted Arson at Rennes Cathedral

June 12, 2020, France

During the night from the 11th to 12th of June, Rennes firefighters intervened to extinguish an intentionally-set fire in front of a door of the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Rennes. A trash bin, placed just in front of the door located at the back of the building, on Rue Saint-Sauveur, was set on fire. According to the first impressions from the investigation, this was a voluntary act because the bin was brought from an adjacent street and deliberately placed outside the door.

Desecration of University Chapel in Santiago de Compostela

June 12, 2020, Spain

The chapel of USC (University of Santiago de Compostela) in the South Campus of Santiago was vandalized on July 12th, which led to much damage and the desecration of consecrated hosts. The police are investigating the case.

Vandalism in Stegaurach Church Caused Damage of 10,000 Euros

June 12, 2020, Germany

In the afternoon of June 12th unknown perpetrators vandalized the walls, floor and altar cloth in the Church of Stegaurach with liquid candle wax. They also scratched the faces of several paintings and threw three candles, a holy water box, and a holy water bowl into the Aurach river. The resulting property damage amounts to an estimated 10,000 euros and theft damage of 100 euros. The police investigated and about a week later, two underage girls admitted they had committed the acts "without any particular motivation."

Vandalism on Church Bell Tower in Bordighera

June 12, 2020, Italy

On June 12th the bell tower of the small church of Sant'Ampelio in Bordighera, was attacked by vandals who, using red graffiti, wrote the letters D and R. Mayor Vittorio Ingenito was infuriated and stated that this shameful act of vandalism saddened the whole community, as it struck one of the places they all hold most dear and he will "leave no stone unturned" to catch the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

Graves Vandalized in Eure

June 11, 2020, France

Maintenance workers in a small municipal cemetery in the town of Lieurey discovered that dozen ancient graves had been vandalized. Several of the gravestones had been smashed, and on others, just the crosses were destroyed. According to the police in charge of the investigation, the incident dates back to the end of May or the beginning of June.

Theft and Desecration of the Eucharist in Molfetta

June 11, 2020, Italy

The parish priest of San Gennaro in Molfetta, Don Sergio Vitulano, reported that on the morning of June 12th he had noticed the number of consecrated hosts was significantly reduced compared to those placed in the ciborium during the Mass of the previous day. He also reported finding a consecrated host on the ground. The security camera footage revealed that a recognizable woman, observed in the area in the previous days, had entered the church and had taken numerous consecrated Hosts from the tabernacle by hurriedly putting them in her pocket and leaving the church.

Draft Law on Homophobia and Transphobia Could Criminalize Biblical Teaching

June 10, 2020, Italy

The Italian Bishops are speaking against a new legislation proposed against "homotransphobia" by Zan-Scalfarotto, as it could criminalize the Church's teaching on homosexuality and censor the preaching against other sexual pathologies. The Bishops argue that there are already laws that protect every human being from discrimination and violence. The law could lead to "criminalization of opinion".

Theft at the Cathedral St. Sebastian in Magdeburg

June 8, 2020, Germany

Around 3:00 a.m. on June 8, 2020, Sister Adelgitt heard banging on the sidewalk in front of St. Sebastian's Cathedral in downtown Magdeburg. Early the next morning it was clear what she had heard. Unknown thieves had stolen two bronze wings from the 'Angel Gate' which stands in front of the 'Gate of Paradise' at the west entrance of the cathedral. Since this is not the first time that parts of the gate were stolen, the remaining sections of the gate have now been secured by welding them together. A few days later, police received a tip from a witness who had found sawn-up bronze pieces near a garden property in the Fermersleber Elbweg between the two Salbker See lakes. They were later identified as the stolen parts. Narcotics were found on an adjacent property.

St. Johannes in Troisdorf Girls Discover Church Fire - Now The Police Investigates

June 8, 2020, Germany

Although there is no yet concrete evidence of arson, the police are investigating the fire in the church of St. Johannes. Two girls noticed smoke billowing out of the church and alerted the fire department. Apparently, too many candles had been lit on the metal stand in the vestibule.

Report Shows Increase in Violence Against Christian Believers in Spain

June 8, 2020, Spain

The Observatory of Religious Freedom (OLRC) based in Spain, reported a decrease in the attacks towards fundamental rights and an increase in violence against Catholic believers and places of worship (mostly Christian), on June 8th. According to Maria Garcia, President of the OLRC, 80% of the attacks have been directed against Christians. The report also shows political parties like "Podemos", the left party and the PSOE party as clear opposers of religious freedom involved in acts against Christians. The most affected cities are Madrid, Andalucia and Cataluña.

Window Church in Burscheid Smashed For the Second Time

June 6, 2020, Germany

On 6th June, the windows of St. Laurentius Church in Burscheid were smashed again. They were already repaired one week after the first attack. There were four fist-sized holes found on the window, the metal frames were bent, and the stones were found inside the church by the opposite wall. The church remained closed, due to another act of vandalism in New Year's Eve, when a drunk man tried to set fire to the nativity scene.

Church Vandalized with Graffiti in Morlaix

June 5, 2020, France

The group Protège ton Église (Protect your Church) reported vandalism of the exterior walls of the église Saint-Martin in Morlaix during the week of June 5th.

Catholic Church Chapel Vandalized in Dijon

June 5, 2020, France

On the night of the 4th to 5th of June, a Catholic Chapel was vandalized with graffiti by unknown vandals in Dijon. One of the inscriptions says "Death to the Pigs". The same Chapel had already been victim of graffiti and anarchist symbols in February 2019.

Statue of Christ Decapitated and Vandalized

June 5, 2020, Spain

In the early morning hours of June 4, unknown individuals assaulted the monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in La Roda de Andalucía and broke the face and hands of the image to pieces.

Catholic Seminary Defaced During "Black Lives Matter Vienna" Rally

June 5, 2020, Austria

A "Black Lives Matter Vienna" protest on June 5th led to anti-church demonstrations and vandalism at a seminary near the US embassy in Vienna-Alsergrund, according to the seminary director. The outer wall was extensively smeared with graffiti and defaced, and he reported the resulting financial damage to the police.

Saint-Joseph Parish Church Vandalized

June 4, 2020, France

At the end of the first week of June, broken glass was discovered in a corridor of the parish church of Schœneck caused by the throwing of a large stone of about one kilo against a church window. The projectile had been thrown from outside the church and loosened the metal frame of the masonry. In front of the entrance to the crypt, the impact of a projectile against a window pane caused a crack that spanned its entire length. Another window was broken in the sacristy. Additionally, the large metal entrance gate at the side of the grotto of the Virgin was damaged, and two crossbars were twisted and torn off.

Fire Set in Bockhorst Church

June 4, 2020, Germany

Unknown perpetrators set fire to an altar cloth and an organ book in the Maria von der immerwährenden Hilfe (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) church in Bockhorst at around 5:00 p.m. on May 29th. The fire was extinguished promptly by the person who discovered the fire. Property damage of several thousand euros was incurred.

Large Altar Bible Stolen from Church

June 4, 2020, Germany

Unknown people stole a large altar bible with a golden cover from the Protestant church on Rüdesheimer Langstraße in Rüdesheim sometime between June 3rd and 4th.

Vandalism and Theft at the Church of Heuilley-Cotton

June 3, 2020, France

Between June 3rd and 4th, one or more people broke into the Saint-Loup church of Heuilley-Cotton to steal the "begging angel" (l'ange quêteur) donation box. It was found outside the church completely broken and emptied of its contents.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Destroyed in Cameri

June 3, 2020, Italy

On the night of the 3rd to 4th of June, the Statue of the Virgin Mary of the Library of Cameri was destroyed by unknown vandals. The Statue rested on the courtyard of the library, in a niche. The perpetrator took it out and threw it out into the street, breaking it into pieces.

Hildburghäuser Church Set on Fire

May 31, 2020, Germany

A child set fire to 47 sites in the cycle path and pilgrim of St. Wigbert church in Häselrieth. Twenty-five emergency personnel of the fire brigade quickly extinguished the fire.

Politician Insulted With References to Christianity

May 30, 2020, Poland

During the night of the 30th May, posters appeared at bus stops in Warsaw insulting the minister of Health, Łukasz Szumowski, his family, and work. On the posters the minister is portrayed wearing the traditional costume of the Order of Knights of Malta and it says, "The Gospel according to Lukasz Szum". On the posters, there were also charges and slogans against the Minister of Law and Justice about false Covid-19 Statistics and regulations.

Devastation and Theft of Crosses in Cemetery in Poland

May 29, 2020, Poland

On the 29th of May, the community cemetery of Wieliczka was devastated by a 28-year-old man. He was found on the next morning driving his bike drunk. The police noticed that his bag contained several metal crosses. The crosses were stolen from the cemetery, where he torn off the objects from the gravestones. He was charged with 8 years of prison.

Church Falsely Accused of Spreading COVID-19 Virus

May 28, 2020, Germany

After many COVID-19 cases have been detected among the worshipers of the Bremerhavan Pentecostal church, the crisis management team warned of discrimination against believers. However, it was made clear that the infections have been through family and social contacts. The church defended itself and stated having a coherent hygienic procedure. The mayor complained, that the accusation was a discrimination act against believers.

Statue of the Virgin Mary Decapitated and Thrown to the Ground

May 28, 2020, Italy

On the 28th May, an unknown vandal or vandals decapitated the Statue of the Madonna in the town of Rosta, Turin. The statue was found thrown on the ground and beheaded. The Mayor himself condemned this act of vandalism.

Four Graves, Including that of a Priest, Vandalized in Village Cemetery

May 27, 2020, France

Four graves in the village cemetery of Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière were damaged during the night between May 26th and 27th by unknown vandals. Among those graves was that of Emile Genès, who had returned his native village after a long priestly life in the Paris region.

St. Martin Church Vandalized

May 26, 2020, Germany

Rioters vandalized and damaged the church and broken into the parish hall several times. The parish of St.Martin in Obsentrautstadt has invested around 20,000 euros in safety technology such as alarm systems and fire alarm to protect the church and prevent further damage.

Christians Against the New Biotechnology Law

May 26, 2020, Norway

On the 26th of May, a new Biotechnology law was passed to allow an early ultrasound on the foetus, which can show the physical or mental disadvantages of the baby. Also, the donation of eggs has been made legal and the artificial insemination of single women is now allowed at the expense of the state. The Christian Democratic Party was against this law because the early knowledge about the disability of a foetus could lead to discrimination of the child by being aborted. In Norway, abortion is legal up to the week 12 of pregnancy.

Vandalism of Church Sanctuary for Second Time

May 25, 2020, Italy

In Cassino, probably during the night of the 23rd May, the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Ascension in San Michele was vandalized for the second time. One of the stone benches had been uprooted and broken in several parts. The community wants to install a video surveillance system.

LGBT Activist Organization Accused Christian Pro-Life Moment of Hate Speech

May 25, 2020, Italy

The Pro-Life organisation has been accused of Hate Speech for collecting signatures against the new Homo and Transphobic law. The fear is that Christian institutions, organisations, or Christians themselves, particularly those who are against abortion or homosexual marriage, could be sanctioned up to four years of imprisonment. This could, therefore, lead to restriction of freedom of expression and speech.

Saint-Arthémy Church Vandalized in Coteaux-du-Blanzacais

May 24, 2020, France

The Saint-Arthémy de Blanzac church in the town of Coteaux-du-Blanzacais was the target of acts of vandalism over the weekend of May 23rd and 24th.